Part washing apparatus



Feb. 27, 1962 w. D. YCARRIE 3,022,790

PART WASHING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1962 w; D. CARRIE 3,022,790

PARTWASHINGAPPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet z g? inaagfan z m; 11 mm Mawfl CkrI ze,

llnited rates PART WASHIlNG APPARATUS William D. Carrie, Lisle, ElL, assignor to (irane C0., Chrcago, ill., a corporation of lllinois Original application Dec. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 552,516, now Patent No. 2,872,895, dated Feb. It), 1959. Divided and this application Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 731,565

3 Claims. (Cl. 134-46) The present invention relates to a parts washing apparatius, and more particularly to apparatus for clearing chips from internally threaded parts.

Metal pieces or parts which have been machined present a problem in the clearing off of chips which lodge on and cling to surfaces thereof, especially in the case of internally threaded hollow articles. Special equipment and a separate removal step have heretofore been re quired to clean or clear machined parts of the particles, often quite fine, which remain lodged thereon upon removal from a machine, as well as the expenditure of considerable time and labor.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 552,516, filed December 12, 1955, for Parts Washer, which issued as Patent No. 2,872,895 on February 10, 1959.

The present invention provides means by which the clearing of chips and like particles from-machined parts may be performed expeditiously and effectively without interrupting or slowing production or requiring time or labor in addition to that normally expended in handling the parts. comprising a casing having a bottom drain opening is provided, of such size and form as to be readily mounted adjacent a chucking machine. The casing has means therein for moving parts by gravity alone past inlet means through which fluid is applied to the parts thereby to wash away the chips. The fluid may be the coolant or cutting oil used in the chucking machine, recirculated under relatively low pressure by the same pump means which supplies it to the machine, or air under pressure, or other suitable fluid. In addition to the chip-clearing fluid, if it be a liquid, air may be introduced into the casing to dry the articles after the chips and particles have been washed away. A coating composition, as for protecting or lubricating threaded portions of the parts, also may be introduced through a nozzle arranged to spray the composition into or onto the articles. The parts move out of a discharge aperture in the casing by gravity into any suitable receptacle placed to receive them. The apparatus provides means for adjustment to adapt to parts of different sizes and shapes. The machine operator need not take time to stack the parts carefully in an orderly manner in what is termed a tote box or the like for transfer to a chip-removing station, as has heretofore been necessary, but merely places the parts in the apparatus, disposed conveniently at hand, and the chipclearing operation proceeds automatically. Thus, no separate operation is required for this purpose, and a great saving in time and labor is eflected. The need for space for a separate handling station is also eliminated. Since the apparatus operates by gravity, no motors or power driving means are necessary to move the parts through the casing. The simplicity of the apparatus reduces maintenance to a minimum. The invention may be embodied in many forms, two of which are particularly disclosed herein.

It is an important object of the invention to provide apparatus for automatically clearing chips and like particles from machined parts without necessitating a separate operation or station therefor.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for clear- According to the invention, simple apparatus SfiZZfldh Patented Feb. 27, 1962 ice lug chips from machined parts which operates by gravity and requires no power application.

Another object is the provision of chip-clearing appa ratus for machined parts which may be disposed adjacent a chucking machine or the like to operate upon the parts as they are removed from the machine, to save space, labor, and time.

A further object is the provision of a parts washer for removal of chips from machined parts which operates very ellectively on internally threaded parts.

Another object is the provision of a parts washer which readily incorporates means for drying the parts and means for applying protective coating material.

Still another object is the provision of a parts washer especially adapted to internal chip clearing of tubular arts. p A further object is the provision of a parts washer which is simple in construction and operation, requiring minimum maintenance and effects great savings in labor,

time, and expense.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken according to theline 22;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through another form of and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3, taken as generally indicated by the line 44.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a parts washer incorporating the invention, which comprises a substantially rectangular casing 81 extending at a suitable slope or inclination. The casing comprises a pair of side walls 82 which are cut away at the upper rear corners as indicatcd at 83, with a rear wall 84 extending between the Walls 82 at the cut-away portions 83. A top wall 85 extends between the side walls forwardly from the cutaway portions 83 to a front wall 86. A bottom wall 87 has a drain aperture 88 therein at the forward lower portion thereof to allow drainage into a pipe or similar hollow casing support 89. A parts discharge opening 'Sl-El is formed in the front wall 86 and provided with a discharge chute Q1 extending outwardly therefrom and an inclined guide grill 92 extending across the interior of the casing adjacent the bottom of the discharge opening 99. A deflecting guard 93 is provided within the casing above the opening to prevent cocking or jamming of parts being discharged. Suitable drums or rollers 94 are mounted on shafts 95 adjacent the forward and rear ends of the casing, the rear drum projecting out or the casing at the insertion opening provided by the cut-away construction of the side Walls. The shafts 95 extend horizontally through the side walls and are journalled in suitable bearings 96 mounted on the walls. An endless belt 97 extends about the rollers, and has secured thereto a number of holders 98 generally of U-shape with upstanding end portions having arcuately notched upper edges, adapted to receive Ts or similar pieces or parts T. In this instance, nine holders are shown, equally spaced along the belt. The belt is preferably of mettalic mesh or the like, and the holders are preferably removably secured thereto by any suitable means. Disposed projecting in opposed pairs through the opposite side walls 82 along the path of the parts T are inlet means 35, 36, and 37, respectively adapted for the introduction or a flushing fluid, a jet or blast of compressed air, and a jet of protecting and/ or lubricating apparatus according to this invention;

liquid into the passages of the parts T. Similar inlets may be provided extending through the top wall 85 for introducing fluid into upwardly extending passages of parts which may he carried on the belt $7. The air injectors 36 are supplied with compressed air from any suitable source by means of a solenoid valve (not shown) controlled by a switch 3? closed by depression of a member carrying a roller 39 and biased outwardly by a spring to switch-opening position. The switch is mounted on the side of the casing adjacent a cam 99 in the form of a circular plate fastened on the end of one of the shafts 95 and having spaced peripheral teeth 160 successively engaging and depressing the spring-urged switch roller 39 to close the switch. The number of teeth ltlilcorresponds to the number of holders 98, and the teeth are arranged to close the switch 38 as a holder comes into alignment with the injectors 36. The injectors 37 are supplied through a suitable solenoid valve (not shown) with a protecting liquid under pressure, a suitable switch 41 mounted on a side wall of the casing controlling the valve. A lever 42 extending through the side .wall is arranged to be engaged and swung by a part T coming to a position with a passage aligned with the injector means 37, so as to close the switch 41. The lever may be pivoted by any suitable means, such as the pivot bracket 43. I

It will be clear that as a processed part is. removed from a chucking or like machine, it may be placed on one of the holders 98 at the insertion opening provided by the cut away construction of the side walls at 83 and, because of the inclination of the belt, moved by gravity toward the discharge end of the casing, passing the sev-. eral fluid inlet means 35, 36 and 37. As the part passes the inlets 35, a liquid flowing constantly therethrough is introduced into the opposite ends of the part to flush out chips and the like. The liquid flows over and through the belt to the bottom of the casing and drains out the aperture 88 for return through the support 89. As the part passes the air injectors 36, the switch 38 is closed by the cam 99 to open the associated solenoid valve, and a stream of air is momentarily introduced into the part to effect substantial drying thereof. The part continues its movement to pass the protecting liquid injectors 37, and as it comes to position between these injectors trips the lever 42 to close the switch 41 so that a spurt of the liquid is introduced into the part. The part T then moves downwardly until the holder in which it is received passes about the forward roller $4, when the part drops onto the grill 92 and is guided out of the discharge opening 90 to fall into a tote box or other receptacle. It will be clear that the fluid inlet means 35, 36 and 37 extending through the top wall 85 of the casing and those projecting through the side walls may be used either independently or in conjunction with each other as may be desired, and that the compressed air if desired may be used for chip removal instead of the flushing liquid. The particular holders 98 may be replaced by others for receiving parts T of form or size different from those shown.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, another parts washing apparatus 110 is shown. This device employs a substantially rectangular casing arranged at a suitable slope or inclination with its rear end uppermost. The casing comprises a pair of side walls 111 and front and rear walls 112 with a fiat top wall 113 extending over the top thereof and providing an insertion aperture 114 adjacent the rear portion. A bottom wall 115 is provided which has a drain aperture 116 adjacent the front wall 112 opening into a hollow support 117 through which liquid may be drained from the casing. A portion 118 of the bottom wall projects forwardly of the front wall and support. The front wall 112 has a large discharge opening 119 formed therein, through which extend the forward portions of a pair of inclined parallel side rails 120 extending longitudinally in the casing, each secured on front and rear supports or uprights 121. The lower ends of the uprights 121 are reduced to project through parallel transverse slots 122 in the bottom wall 13.5 at the rear portion thereof and the forward portion 15.8. Nuts 123 are threaded on the lower ends of the uprights to secure them at a desired location along the slots. By this means, the rails 12% may be disposed at varying distances from each other to accommodate parts of different dimensions. Extending through the opposite side walls 111 and also through the top wall 113 are fluid inlet means 35, 36, and 37 for the admission of flushing liquid, compressed air, and a protecting liquid under pressure, respectively, into the casing as already explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The inlet means 2: .ending through the side walls of the casing are arranged for adjustment of their vertical location by means of vertical slots 124 in the side walls closed by plates 125 carried on the several inlet means. Nuts 126 threaded on the inlet means respectively within and outside the casing walls are employed to clamp the inlet and closure plates in adjusted position. The degree of projection into the casing of the side wall inlet means may also be regulated by this arrangement, as will be evident from FIG. 4. The air injector means 36 and protecting liquid injector means 37 projecting through the top wall 113 may be arranged in pairs extending in converging relation, as best shown in FIG. 4, if desired. Switches 41 such as already described are mounted on the casing top wall for controlling solenoid valves, not shown, respectively controlling flow of air and protecting liquid through the inlet means 36 and 37. Each of these switches may be of the normally open type and arranged to be closed by a lever 42 pivoted on a suitable bracket 43 on the top wall of the casing, and projecting through an aperture in the top wall so as to have the lower end thereof positioned adjacent the rails 120. By having the top wall inlet means 36 and 37 arranged in pairs, the trip levers 42 may conveniently be centrally located. In the present instance, the device is shown as employed for operation upon straight tubular parts P having a flanged collar or shoulder adjacent one end thereof, although it will be obvious that other types of parts may be accommodated. These parts are inserted through the opening 114 to extend between the rails with the enlarged portion bearing on the rails, so that the part will slide downwardly past the fluid inlet means. Flushing fluid flowing through the upper inlet means 35 washes chips and other particles out of the interior of each part. As the part slides under the top wall air injectors 36, it engages a lever 42 to operate the switch 41 which controls injection of air through the inlet means, and blasts of air are blown through and over the part. When the part P moves under the top wall protecting liquid injector 37, it trips the lever 42 of the switch 41 controlling the solenoid valve in the protecting liquid line, to effect injection of the liquid into the part. The part then continues sliding down the rails 120 through the discharge opening 119 so that it may drop into the receptacle provided for it. The several inlet means in the side walls 111 and top wall 113 may be operated independently of or in conjunction with each other, as best suited to the particular parts, as in the other herein disclosed embodiment of the invention, and if desired air may be employed instead of the flushing fluid to remove the chips.

The flushing fluid introduced through the inlet means 35 may be a liquid coolant or cutting oil from a chucking or like machine on which the parts T or P have been threaded or otherwise machined, and adjacent which the parts washing apparatus may be located. Thus, as the machine operation on each part is completed, the operator may conveniently insert the part in the casing to be acted on by the apparatus as described. The inlet means 35, which may be controlled by a conventional manually operable valve, not shown, may conveniently be connected to the coolant or cutting oil supply source of the adjacent machine so that some of the liquid will pass through the means 35 under the relatively low machine pump pressure. The flushing liquid after washing the parts flows out of the casing through the. combined casing support and drain 89 or 117, which may be connected to the return line or sump of the adjacent machine for recirculaton. If the pressure employed for the liquid in the machine is insufficient to assure its reaching the interior of the parts as it flows from the horizontal inlet means 35, these means may be arranged to project inwardly of the casing close to the parts, or auxiliary pump means may be employed to increase the pressure of the fluid flowing therethrough. Of course, the fluid may be provided from a source other than the adjacent machine.

Since the flushing or chip-clearing-liquid is conserved by return and recirculation, it is not necessary to introduce it intermittently in timed relation to movement of the parts past the inlet means 35, although this may of course be done if desired. It would obviously be Wasteful, however, to inject compressed air continuously through the inlet means 36, and accordingly intermittent injections thereof is employed as described. While the blasts of air aid in drying the parts and assure removal of all chips therefrom, the apparatus operates quite satisfactorily if no provision for air injection is made or if the air is shut ofi. If desired, the injection of air may be substituted for the flow of flushing liquid in the clearing of chips and particles from the parts, in Which case the casing need have no drain arrangement and may be entirely open at its bottom. The means for injecting the protecting composition need be employed only when parts requiring the same are being produced, and the inlet means 37 may be rendered inoperative, as by inactivation of the switch 41, or may be omitted from the apparatus, if desired. In the arrangement shown, waste of the composition as well as undesirable coating of the interior of the apparatus thereby are avoided by the timed injection of the composition into the parts.

It will be evident that the invention is susceptible to incorporation in many forms, any of which provide a compact device or apparatus which may readily be mounted adjacent a machine and draw its flushing fluid from a source associated with the machine. Of course, the apparatus may be employed separately from the machine if desired. Also, if any particular circumstances make it desirable, power may be employed to drive the apparatus instead of utilizing gravity, although the elimination of the need for power operation by employing gravity is an important advantage of the invention. It will also be apparent that the invention provides for great flexibility not only in the diversity of parts which may be accommo dated but also in the operation which may be performed thereon.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be understood that the invention may be incorporated in apparatus of forms modified or difierent from those specifically illustrated, and accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited otherwise than as required by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for interior cleaning of tubular articles,

comprising a casing including top and bottom wall portions, a hollow support for the casing, a drain aperture in the casing bottom wall portion providing communication with the support, a plurality of parallel inclined conveyor rods longitudinally supported in the casing, means for adjusting the lateral spacing of the rods, an insertion aperture in the top wall portion over the upper portions of the rods for positioning of articles on the rods for downward movement thereon by gravity with openings thereof directed upwardly, a discharge opening in the casing adjacent the lower portions of the rods for passing articles out of the casing, a plurality of fluid inlet means opening through the top wall portion into the casing over said rods and along the path of movement of the articles directed downwardly to introduce fluids into the article interiors and including at least one fluid injecting inlet means for admitting gas under pressure into the casing, means controlling operation of'said injecting inlet means, and means actuated by the articles in said movement thereof to operate said controlling means.

2. A device for interior cleaning of tubular articles, comprising a casing, a plurality of parallel inclined conveyor rods extending longitudinally through the casing, means for adjusting the lateral spacing of said rods, an insertion aperture in the casing adjacent the upper ends of the rods for disposition of articles on said rods to move downwardly thereon by gravity, an opening in the casing adjacent the lower ends of the rods for passage of articles out of the casing, a plurality of fluid inlet means opening into the casing along the path of movement of the articles for introduction of fluids into the interior of the articles including at least one injecting inlet means for admitting a jet of fluid under considerable pressure into the casing, means controlling operation of said injecting inlet means, and the means actuated by the articles in said movement thereof to operate said controlling means.

3. A device for interior cleaning of tubular articles, comprising a casing, inclined conveyor means extending iongitudinally in the casing including a pair of members defining a slot therebetween, an aperture in the casing adjacent the upper portion of the conveyor means for insertion of articles on said members extending through the slot to move downwardly by gravity, a discharge opening in the casing adjacent the lower portion of the conveyor means to pass articles out of the casing, fluid inlet means opening into the casing along the path of movement of the articles for introducing fluid into the article interiors including at least one fluid injecting inlet means for admitting a jet of fluid, and means for operating the injecting inlet means in timed relation to movement of the articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,519,443 Douthitt Dec. 16, 1924 1,717,998 Olmsted June 18, 1929 2,114,723 Paasche Apr. 19, 1938 2,440,419 Trier et al Apr. 27, 1948 2,805,967 Murphy Sept. 10, 1957 

